My goal...
To successful install and use FC3 in a virtual machine hosted by WinXP for
however long it takes me to find, install, understand, and otherwise
replace by existing M$-based apps with Linux versions. Then, once I have
everything ready to roll on Linux, and have no NEED for the Windows apps
blow away the box and install it as a FC3-only machine.

Start again. Install FC, VMware, XP.
or try Ubuntu. It's debian-derived, almost as friendly as OS X. Base system
installs from a single CD. There is a second, a live demo.

Funny you mention that. I just got the Ubuntu CD in the mail the other
day. I played with the Live CD. I wasn't particularly overwhelmed.
Ubuntu's GNOME 2.8 isn't any "better" than FC3's (unless I'm missing
something).

I do like the large archive they have though and I'd probably be playing
with Ubuntu right now (dual booting) if I had the HD space... As it is
Debian based, I'd like to try it for that reason alone that and the fact
that is has a cool name. ;-)